Lately I have been in Cybertown.  The houses and all the graphics are preset, all you have to do is buy the furniture and pets and whatever else is made and you can decorate in 3D.  Of course everything is mostly pay for chat now.  So there is a small fee.  But you can get a 30 day trial before you decide if you like it.  Also you can get sponsors, some for 30 days some for a year.  But it is really less than a fast food meal, or cigs.  So you can think of it as trying to live the good life!